Amalgamator and concentrator.



PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

K. LANIUS. AMALGAMATUR AND GDNGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

No. 755,230. PATENTED MAR. 22. 1.904.

- K. LANIUS.

'AMALGAMATOR AND GONGENTRATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7. 1902. no MODEL. 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED MAR. 22,1904.

- K. LANIUS.-

AMALGAMATOR AND GONUENTRATOR;

APPLICATION FILED JULY '7, 1902.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

N0 mom-11..

I PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904. K. LANIUS.

AMALGAMATOR AND G0NGIE.N'IRA'I.0R.

. grrmoumu FILED JULY 1,1902.

I0 IODEL.

a sums-suit 5.

Patented lvfarch 2Q, 1904.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

KINSEY LANIUS, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS,TO EDITH ROSCOE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

AMALGAMATOR AND CONCENTRATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '7 55,230, dated March22, 1904:.

. Application filed gJ'uly '1, 1902. Serial No. 114,652. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, KINSEY LANIUs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of U010- rado,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators andConcentrators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to amalgamators and concentrators for extractinggold and silver from ores.

The object of this invention is to provide an amalgamator andconcentrator which will include an amalgamatingtrough provided withremovable guards adapted to be locked therein and screen-sections whichwill dis charge fine particles of gold into lower amal- I gamating,reciprocating, concentrating and arrastra troughs, the upper and lowertroughs having their outlets at opposite ends and inof fingers extendingdown in the amalgamating-pans, adapted to keep themercury-baths vtherein in a state of agitation.

A further purpose of the invention is to construct a machine of thecharacter described in a simple, light, and durable manner, and toprovide mechanism for imparting end movement to the troughssimultaneously with a jerking or jarring motion.

In brief, my invention consists in' certain novel features, theparticular construction of the various parts, and in the arrangementandcombination of said parts, all of which will be hereinafter fullydescribed, and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, whichare intended to accord in their terms, spirit, and meaning with theprior state of the art and the existing laws.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a Viewin side elevation.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, parts being broken.

away. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal sectional view. Fig. 5 is a vertical transverse sectionalview looking in one direction. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sectionalview looking in the other direction. Fig. 7 is a detail view of thescreen, illustrating the manner in which it is looked upon the frame.Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail-view of the ball-bearing sleeve.

The main frame A of the machine is preferably made of tubular materialin the interest of lightness and is ordinarily rectangular in itsgeneral contour, comprising parallel upper side sections 1, lower sidesections 2, vertical corner-sections 3, connecting the upper and thelower sections, upper end sections 4, and lower end sections 5,connecting the upper, lower, and corner sections, as shown in Fig. 1.Between the lower side sections are pivoted two shafts 6, carryingangular levers 7, having mounted upon one end of: each a wheel 8, theother ends being connected by parallel rods 9. One of these levers isconnected by a rod 10- to a lever 11, mounted upon one of thecorner-sections and provided with a suitable device for locking it in adepressed position, thus providing means "whereby "the frame may beeasily raised upon the Wheels and readily conveyed from place toplace.

Within the main frame an auxiliary frame B is mounted to swing uponrods'12. The auxiliary frame Bis similar in construction to themainframe, being usually rectangular and of less dimensions than thedimensions of the compartment of the mainframe in which it is placed, asshown in the several figures. This auxiliary frame B'consists of upperand lower end sections 13, upper and lower side sections 14:, andupright end sections 15, together with oppositely-disposed angularsections consisting of an upper and lower rods 16'and 16', held orbraced together at their free end by a plate 18, the rods 16 and 16'having mounted there upon sliding tops 19 and 19, the purpose of whichwill be hereinafter described.

The auxiliary frame B carries an amalgamating-trough C at its upperportion, mounted upon the adjustable brackets 20, adapted to slide up ordown on the upright end sections 15. This amalgamating-trough consistsof a frame having upper and lower side sections 21, upright sections 22,connecting the upper and lower sections, end sections 23, connecting theside sections, and transverse sections 24, connecting the lower sidesections. This frame is adapted to receive and support the troughproper, which is provided approximately near its open end with a strip25 and perforated above the strip, as shown at 26, so as to form ascreen. It is also provided with a screen 27, which is supported overthe screen 26 by the strip 25. These screens extend from side to side ofthe trough and permit the fine particles of gold and fine ore whichsifts through the openings in the guard E, to be hereinafter described,to pass down and out from the amalgamating-trough into a lower trough D,also to be hereinafter described, the coarse material in theamalgamating-trough C finding an exit at the lower or open end of saidtrough. This trough is further provided with a guard E, consisting of aseries of steel strips 28, so shaped as to form inverted troughs, whichare connected by transverse strips 29, bent so as to lock the partstogether. This guard is formed in two parts adapted to rest in thebottom of the trough and to be locked therein by the rod 30, whichextends across the trough and is adapted to be held in place by a lock31. This guard has two functions,

one of which is to receive and carry off the coarse material and theother is to prevent the amalgam from being stolen from the trough.

It will be observed that by adjusting the supports or brackets 20, whichmay be fixed in position by suitable set-screws, the inclination of theamalgamating-trough may be increased or decreased, as occasion maydemand. The inner surface of the amalgamating-trough Uis coated withmercury or otherwise treated for the purpose of causing the gold 'toadhere thereto and separate itself from the dross or crushed ore.

Below the amalgamating-trough C is a concentrating-trough D, whichtrough is inclined in an opposite direction from the upper oramalgamating trough, and the outlet of the concentrating-trough is atthat end which is beneath the inlet portion of the amalgamating trough.The concentrating trough is likewise supported by adjustable brackets32, adapted to increase or decrease the inclination, as occasion maydemand, this trough consisting of a frame having upper and lower sidesections 33, connected by upright sec: tions 34, upper and lower endsections 35, connecting the upper and lower side sections, andtransverse sections 36, connecting the lower side sections. This framesupports the trough proper, which is provided with three amalgamatingpans or reservoirs 37, 38, and 39, which are formed therein by suitablepartitions, each pan being provided with a drainplug for the purpose ofdrawing off the mercury.

The reservoirs or pans 37, 38, and 39 are adapted to receive amercury-bath and are likewise adapted to receive suitably-appliedelectric currents, as plainly shown in Fig. 3, wherein (0 indicates thenegative wire, and 7) the positive wire. At thereceiving end of theconcentrating-trough is a pivoted gate 41, which may be. opened orclosed, as occasion may demand, so as to pass out the concentrates orforce them to go through the amalgamating reservoirs or pans; also, aninclined directing-.plate42, adapted to receive the material whichpasses through the screens in the amalgamating-trough C and direct it tothe center amalgamating-pan 38. Between the amalgamating-pans 37 and 38is located an arrastra F, consisting of two blocks of stone, glass, orthe'like, (designated, respectively, as 43 and 44. The lower block 43 issecured to the bottom of the trough D, while the upper block 44 issecured by means of adjustable rods 45 and 46 to a shaft 47, which ismounted between oppositely-disposed angular levers 48, pivoted upon thesides of a frame G, hereinafter fullydescribed, the free ends ofthelevers engaging the lugs 49 upon the frame of the concentrating-trough Dfor the purpose of giving a vertical motion to one end of the upperblock when the auxiliary frame carrying said trough is swung back andforth.

As the concentrating-trough moves with the suspended or auxiliary frameB, the lower block 43 of the arrastra will be laterally reciprocatedbeneath theupper block 44. These blocks are one of the main features ofmy invention, as the gold which cannot be readily separated by theamalgamating trough and reservoirs or pans and by the action ofsuitably-applied electric currents will float up between the stones orblocks and will there be ground and separated from the dross and sopolished or brightened that it will adhere to the mercury.

The frame G, consisting of side sections 50, connected by end sections51, is mounted upon adjustable brackets 52 upon the stationary frame A.This frame is provided with transverse sections 53, connecting the sidesections 50 and adapted to support corresponding plates 54, providedwith a series of aluminium fingers 55, the lower ends of which are bent,so as to form paddles, which paddles extend down into the amalgamatingreservoirs or pans 37 and 38 and serve to keep the mercurybaths in saidpans in a state of agitation while the machine is being operated.

Over the frame G is located a screen H, which is supported upon thebrackets 52 and locked upon the frame by a rod 56, which extends beneathsaid frame and is provided with a lock 57. This screen covers the entireframe and projects over the ends and sides of the concentrating-trough,thus rendering it impossible to steal the amalgam and quicksilvertherefrom. i i

The auxiliary or suspended frameB is given end motion through the mediumof cams 58, which are mounted on a transverse shaft 59, journaled upontheend uprights of the stationary frame A, said shaft being driven by apulley 60. These cams consist of disks having corresponding ball-bearingsleeves 61, adapted to engage the adjustable stops 19 or 19 alternately.The object in having these stops, adjustable is to provide means forreversing the motion of the machine, which may be accomplished byadjusting one set of the stops so that they will be brought in contactwith the revolving sleeves and the others out of the line of contact,and vice versa, the bottom portion of the auxiliary frame beingconnected by a tension device with the bottom portion of the main frameA, and these tension devices are so placed that when the auxiliary frameis forced to move in one direction by the cams and is released by saidcams the tension devices serve to return the auxiliary frame to itsnormal position. sion devices, as shown, consist of cylinders 62,adapted for attachment to either end of the main frame at oppositesides, and a spring-- controlled plunger 63, having movement in saidcylinder, the outer end of the plunger being connected by a rod 64 to anangular lever 65, pivoted upon the bottom side section of the auxiliaryframe and adapted to be held in a depressed position by the lugs 66 or67 as occasion may demand, these tension de-' vices being adjustable, soas to give the desired strength to the jerking or jarring motion and toregister the number of pounds required to the jerk or jar to work theore.

Having thus described the various features of my invention, what I claimas new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an amalgamator and concentrator, a trough having reservoirs formercury-baths, an arrastra located between the reservoirs, whicharrastra consists ofa fixed and a movable block, one adapted to slideover the other, one end of the movable block having a vertical movement,substantiallyas specified 2. In an amalgamator. and concentrator, anamalgamating and concentrating trough provided with reservoirs, anarrastra located be" tween the reservoirs, which arrastra consists of afixed and a movable block, the movable block being adjustably connectedto a rocking shaft, the said rocking shaft adapted to impart a verticalmovement to one end of-the movable block, the movable block adapted toslide over the fixed block, substantially as specified.

3. In an amalgamator and concentrator, an

amalgamating and concentrating trough provided with reservoirs,drain-plugs in the said reservoirs, a fixed frame located over the saidThese ten-- amalgamating and concentrating trough, plates upon the sa1dframe carrylng a series of fingers which extend down into the saidreservoirs, an arrastra located between the said reservoirs, whicharrastra consists of a block fixed in the bottom of the trough, and amovable block adjustably connected by rods to a rocking shaft, the saidrocking shaft adapted to impart a vertical movement to one end of themovable. block, and means for imparting a jerking or jarring motion tothe said trough, substantially as specified.

4. In an amalgamator and concentrator, an amalgamating and concentratingtrough having reservoirs therein, a fixed frame located over the troughhaving plates thereupon carrying a series of fingers which extend downinto the reservoirs, an arrastra located between the reservoirs, whicharrastra consists of a block secured in the bottom of the trough, and ablock connected by adjustable rods to a rocking shaft, the said shaftmounted between angularclevers upon a fixed frame, lugs upon the troughfor engaging the levers, and means for imparting a jerking or jarringmotiOlll to the said trough, substantially as specifiec 5. In anamalgamator and concentrator, an

reservoirs, a frame located over the trough upon adjustable brackets,plates secured to the frame, fingers extending from the plates into thereservoirs, an arrastra located. between the reservoirs, the arrastraconsisting of two blocks, one of which is secured to the trough, theother having adjustable rods by which it is secured to a rocking shaft,the said shaft mounted upon the frame, arms upon the shaft for engaginglugs upon the trough, a screen covering the said trough and frame, a rodfor locking the screen to the frame, and means for reciprocating thesaid troughs, substantially as specified.

6. In an amalgamator and concentrator, a main frame, a vibratory framelocated within the main frame, an upper amalgamatingtrough and a loweramalgamating and concensecured to a rocking shaft mounted between leversupon the adjustable frame, substantially as specified.

7 In an'amalgamator and concentrator, a main frame, a frame mounted toswing in the main frame, an upper amalgamating-trough and a loweramalgamating and concentrating trough, adjustably mounted upon andcarried by the said swinging frame, screens in the amalgamating-troughthrough which the gold and fine ore pass, a removable guard in thetrough with means for locking the same in position, an adjustable framemounted on the main frame between the troughs, plates upon theadjustable frame, agitating-fingers carried by the said plates extendinginto reservoirs in the concentrating-trough, drain-plugs in thereservoirs, a pivoted gate in one end of the concentrating-trough, adeflecting-plate in the concentrating-trough, a screen covering the saidconcentrating trough and adjustable frame, and means for impartingmotion to the swinging frame, substantially as specified.

8. In an amalgamator and concentrator, a main frame, a vibratory framelocated within the main frame, arms upon the vibratory frame, adjustablestops mounted upon said arms, an upper amalgamating-trough and a loweramalgamating and concentrating trough carried by the said vibratoryframe,aframe adj ustably mounted upon the main frame, plates upon theadjustably-mounted frame, agitat- -ing-fingers upon the plates,reservoirs in the amalgamating and concentrating trough adapted toreceive the fingers, an arrastra located between the reservoirs, ascreen covering the adjustably-mounted frame and amalgamating andconcentrating trough, a driving-shaft, a support for the said shaft,cams located on the shaft, arranged for engagement with the saidadjustable stops, and tension devices connecting the main frame with thevibratory frame, substantially as specified.

9. In an amalgamator and concentrator, a main frame, a frame mounted toswing in the main frame, tension devices connecting the main frame withthe swinging frame, the said device controlling the movement of theswinging frame in one direction, arms upon the swinging frame,adjustablestops upon the said arms, a driving-shaft carried by the main frame,disks upon the driving-shaft, revolving sleeves upon the disks adaptedto engage the adjustable stops for imparting motion to the swingingframe, an am algamating-trough provided with screens in its bottom at apoint in its length, a removable guard with means for locking the samein the amalgamating-trough, the amalgamating-trough being supported inthe swinging frame, and an amalgamating and concentrating trough alsomounted in the swinging frame below the amalgamatingtrough,the receivingend of the amalgamating and concentrating trough being below the screensin the amalgamating-trough, reservoirs locatedin the amalgamating andconcentrating trough, adapted to receive mercurybaths, a frameadjustably mounted upon the main frame, plates upon theadjustably-mounted frame, fingers upon the plates extending main frame,wheels upon the frame, means for raising or lowering the wheels, anauxiliary frame mounted to swing in the main frame, an inclinedamalgamating-trough adjustably supported in the swinging frame, andprovided'with screens and a guard in its bottom, an amalgamating andconcentrating trough also adjustably supported in the swinging framebelow the amalgamating-trough, the amalgamating and concentrating troughbeing inclined in an opposite direction to the amalgamating-trough, adriving mechanism for imparting end motion to the swinging frame,tension devices connecting the main frame to the swinging frame, whichtension devices are adjustable, reservoirs located in the amalgamatingand concentrating trough, a frame adjustably mounted upon the mainframe, plates upon the adjustably-mounted frame, fingers upon the saidplates, which fingers extend into the said reservoirs, an arrastralocated between the said reservoirs, which arrastra comprises a blocksecured in the amalgamating and concentrating trough and another blockadjustably secured to a shaft mounted between levers, said leverspivoted to the adjustablymounted frame, lugs upon the amalgamating andconcentrating trough, adapted to engage the free ends of the levers, anda screen covering the said adj ustably-mounted frame and amalgamatingand concentrating trough, substantially as specified.

11. In an amalgamator and concentrator, a main frame, wheels upon theframe, means for raising and lowering the wheels, an auxiliary framemounted to swing in the main frame, an inclined amalgamating-troughadjustably supported in the swinging frame, screens in the bottom of thesaid trough, a guard covering the bottom of the amalgamating-trough,with means for locking the same within the trough, an amalgamating andconcentrating trough also adjustably supported in the swinging frame,below the amalgamating-trough, the amalgamating and concentrating troughbeing inclined in an opposite direction to the amalgamating-trough, apivoted gate at the elevated end of the amalgamating and concentratingtrough, a deflecting-plate in the elevated end of the amalgamating andconcentrating trough, and reservoirs in the amalgamating andconcentrating trough, a frame ad- ICC justably mounted in the mainframehaving plates secured thereto, fingers upon the plates extending intothe reservoirs, an arrastra located between the reservoirs, comprising alower block secured in the amalgamating and concentrating trough, and anupper block, ad-

justably connected to a shaft mounted between levers pivoted to theframe supporting the fingers, the said blocks adapted to rub to- IOgether, tension connections between the main frame and swinging frame,and a drivingshaft mounted on the main frame, disks upon the shaft,revolving sleeves upon the disks, adapted to engage adjustable stopsupon the swinging frame, substantially as specified.

KINSEY LANIUS.

Witnesses:

OWEN H. FOWLER, PHILIP TINDALL.

